Not Just A Win, But A Dominating Performance

Another NCAA championship game became a showcase for UConn's dominance of the women's college basketball world.

The Huskies, undefeated with the title on the line since their first appearance in 1995, don't just win these games. They make opponents look silly.

That was the case again Tuesday in Nashville, where UConn defeated Notre Dame 79-58 in the first championship game matchup of undefeated teams. The victory left the Huskies at 40-0 for the first time, gave UConn its fifth perfect season and further cemented the legacy of coach Geno Auriemma, who surpassed Tennessee's Pat Summitt with his ninth title in his ninth try.

When conference realignment forced UConn from the Big East and into the AAC, Auriemma said many times that it was important to remember that the Huskies, regardless of conference affiliation, were simply in a league of their own.

Are they ever — on the women's side, and on the men's side. The party can keep rocking in Storrs, once again the capital of the basketball world. The men returned to campus Tuesday after winning their fourth national title with a victory against Kentucky on Monday in Arlington, Tex. The only other dual title came in 2004, also by UConn.

The big difference: We've known all along that having players such as Stephanie Dolson and Breanna Stewart makes UConn especially dominant inside. We learned just before the Final Four that the absence of Natalie Achonwa, out with a torn ACL, might make Notre Dame vulnerable in the same area. And so, as most expected, this game started out with the Huskies taking it right to the Irish. Dolson and Steward did most of the scoring, and general playmaking at both ends, and the Huskies opened up a 22-8 lead. Stewart had 21 points and nine rebounds. Mosqueda-Lewis had 18 and seven. Dolson had 17 and 16. That's 56 points and 32 rebounds for the starting UConn frontcourt, and reserve Kiah Stokes added eight boards.

Irish fighting: Notre Dame had to make adjustments. Considering UConn's success inside, the Irish had no choice but to try to make this a fast, scrappy, guard-orientated game. By halftime, the UConn frontcourt of Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (14 points), Stewart (14) and Dolson (10, six rebounds, five assists) was a combined 18-for-27 from the field. But the Huskies' lead was just 45-38 because Notre Dame found success in a zone defense that guards Bria Hartley and Moriah Jefferson struggled with (they were 2-for-9 in the half). Conversely, the Irish made five of eight three-pointers in the half to stay within striking distance.

Pouring it on: UConn had it all going in the second half. The guards got into the act, Jefferson making a steal and a layup for a 53-40 lead that had Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw calling another timeout, and the lead grew from there. There never was an answer for Stewart or Dolson. Stewart, only a sophomore, continued to show why she could go down as one of the best, most versatile players in the game's history. Mosqueda-Lewis showed why she could go down as one of the sport's truly great shooters. The Huskies did a little bit of everything, the nation's top program and most successful coach showing that it once again had the best players and the best team.

It starts with defense: UConn opened the second half on an 18-4 run to lead, 63-42. The Huskies have had so many fantastic scorers through the years, but it's important to remember how dominant the defense has been on all these championship teams. To hold Notre Dame, one of the nation's top scoring teams, to four points for more than 10 minutes in the second half was impressive.